India reports positive results from lockdown; Modi chairs cabinet meeting
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi has said the monthlong ongoing lockdown has yielded positive results and that the country has managed to save “thousands of lives”.
Modi, who had a videoconference with various heads of the states on Monday, said the impact of the coronavirus, however, will remain visible in the coming months, according to a press statement released by his office. On the issue of getting back Indians who are overseas, the Prime Minister said that this has to be done keeping in mind the fact that they don’t get inconvenienced and their families are not under any risk.
During the meeting with state heads, Modi advocated for the social distancing of at least 6 feet and the use of face masks as a rapid response to tackle COVID-19.
He said that states should put their efforts of converting hotspots, or red zones, into “orange and thereafter green zones”.
India last week eased the lockdown by allowing shops to reopen and manufacturing and farming activities to resume in rural areas to help millions of poor, daily-wage earners. But the economic costs of the nationwide lockdown continue to mount in a country of 1.3 billion people.
Modi, who put India under a strict lockdown on March 25, did not say if the lockdown restrictions will extend after May 3.
India has confirmed over 27,000 cases of the coronavirus, including 872 deaths.
Source: Agencies
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